Letters From the Trenches: A Soldier of the Great War (27 page)
Read Letters From the Trenches: A Soldier of the Great War Online
Authors: Bill Lamin
Tags: #World War I, #Autobiography, #Personal Memoirs
Address 32507 attached 9th Y
+
L., Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O. Box.R. L.I., I.E.F Italy
put R.M.F in full
On 28 June 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed, finally ending the war with Germany (there were different treaties for each of the enemy combatant nations: Hungary
signed its on 4 June 1919, Austria on 10 September, Bulgaria on 27 November and Turkey on 10 August 1920, although the latter was never ratified). I was always a little confused to find that
one of Harry’s medals indicated that the Great War lasted from 1914 to 1919, when everyone knew that the fighting finished in November 1918. But of course the various armistices only
marked the end of offensive operations, whereas the treaties formalized the end of the war, and were signed by all the combatant nations.
There are only two surviving letters from July, and Harry is still no nearer being demobilized. The weather would be very hot by now, so sleeping in the open air wouldn’t be a great
hardship. His sister Sarah Anne (Annie) is getting married, and so that is a point of interest. Jack has clearly written, perhaps to Divisional HQ, or to the battalion, about Harry, and this seems
to have caused some problems. The family would want him home for Annie’s wedding, I imagine, but he is certain that the military authorities will take no notice; he has already told Jack not
to send any more such letters.
It might be helpful to clear things up about the family addresses: so far as I can tell, Ethel and Willie are living with Annie at Whitworth Road in Ilkeston, although Harry and Ethel’s
main home is in Mill Street (Whitworth Road is about a mile from Mill Street, and was then a little more upmarket). Connie, still not walking properly, is at a boarding school in Liverpool, Jack
and his wife are still in Hull, and Kate in Leeds.
Harry’s question about ‘thousands listing’ is interesting. Work is short and some ex-soldiers, finding the transition to civilian life difficult, are re-enlisting into the
forces. That apart, he is fit and well, but seems to be concerned with the finer things of life, asking Kate for handkerchiefs and hair cream (pomade, which he spells ‘Pomard’, was a
popular dressing for men’s hair). He has managed to get the job he wanted, officers’ servant, and perhaps wants to smarten up.
32507/ 9th Y
+
L attach Royal Munsters Fusiliers.,
A.P.O. Box R, L 1., I.E.F Italy
July 1
Dear Kate
Just a few lines to let you know that I am alright and in good health
I dont think I shall get leave yet a while well I am sure not, there are
so many men
with 18 months without a leave, I expect one before
Christmas anyway now that peace is signed I hope it will not be long
before we are all at home I am still doing officers
servant and cooking
and we are still sleeping in the open field so we get plenty of fresh air night and day I am pleased to hear that they are all going on alright at home, and I should
like to know if Connie can walk yet she will soon have been their a year now it is a long time I am glad to hear that Willie is keeping well and all at home. I hope Annie will be alright when
married well I think she will be. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news and if you hear anything about demob in the papers Jack as wrote
[i.e. has written]
to the office
out hear about leave and
[I]
told him in my last letter not to do so as it was no use to write hear at all. I have never got the papers you were going to send and yesterday I got two of
your letters together. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news and when Annie is getting married.
With Best Love
Harry
P.S I would be very pleased if you could send me a few cheap handkercheifs as I have not got any at all and also a tin of Pomard.
32507/9th Y
+
L attached Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L. 1., I.E.F, Italy
July 1
Dear Jack
Just a line to let you know that I am alright and keeping in good health. The officer here as just had a letter from you asking him about leave, as I told you in my
letter it is not a bit of good writing here as there is so many men with 18 month in without leave dont write here again whatever you do for I shall be surprised if I hear anything about leave
for another four months at least anyway now peace is signed I hope we shall all be home for good before long. I am still doing officers servant and cooking for him but I dont know how long it
will last, I think I have kept the job well I think I told you in my last letter that about a dozen of us were sleeping in a field in the open so we have plenty of fresh air night and day we
have been
[sleeping]
out now for about five or six weeks. Do you think you will be able to get home for Annie wedding, I hope she will be alright I hope you enough
[enjoy?]
yourselves in the country it will be a nice change for both of you. Write as often as you can land let me know how you are getting on and if you see anything about
Demob in the papers
its about time they started about it. Is it true that there are thousands listing
[enlisting]
every week in England again. I have had a letter from home and I am pleased to say that they
are all getting on well could you allow Ethel 10/- a month of the money and begin the first week in July if so let me know. I will write again soon
With Best Love to you Both
Harry
From August to December 1919, Harry’s letters paint a picture of a man anxious to quit the Army and go home at last, but resigned to his fate, only too well aware of how
slowly military bureaucracy can move.
August 6/1919
32507/9th Y
+
L attached Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L.9, I.E.F. Italy
Dear Jack
I was very pleased to received your letter. And to hear that you had a
good time when on your holidays. I dont think I should bother any more
now about
writing as I expect I shall get a leave before September
[is?]
out I might get one any time now, as I have nearly twelve months in
[since his last leave]
, and it is a long time to
go without leave especially
when then war is over. I expect I shall get out of the army about next
spring if all goes well. All the men who joined up before July 1st 1916
are getting released from the army as soon as possible, so I expect when
this lot is gone I shall be amongst the next. If I hear anything about a
leave I will write and let you
know as soon as possible. I am very pleased
you paid a visit to Ilkeston and found them well but I hope Annie’s
face is better. I guess Will gets a rum chap what had he got
to say to you
Ethel tells me he gets no better always up to some tricks. he was going
to send me a parcel last time Ethel wrote all sorts of things bobbins etc.
The weather
hear is very hot. I think it is the hottest month of the year.
I expect we shall be out of Italy by november. so if that is correct I shall
have had two years in Italy quite long
enough. Write as often as you can
and let me know all the news. I will write again soon.
With Best Love to you both
Harry
(P.S) Address same only L.9 instead of L.1
32507/ 9th Batt Y
+
L attached Royal Munsters Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L9 I.E.F. Italy
Aug 8/8/19
Dear Kate
I have received your letter and was very pleased with it. I have also had a letter from Jack. I have told him not to bother now as I expect coming home on leave next
month perhaps before. It is very hot out here this month and we are still out in the country, but I dont get much time off. Write and tell me how Annie is getting on I have not had a letter for
a long
[time].
I had a letter from Ethel telling me she had gone back to Mill street but both are keeping in good health Willie must get a rum chap as he is always up to some tricks I
shall be glad to get home again but trade is very slack. I think I shall manage to get out of the army by about April next year. it might be before, well I hope so. Let me know what Annie said
about Connie and if she is keeping in good health. If I hear any thing about leave I will let you know at once. Jack told me in his last letter that he enjoyed his holidays very much and that
he found time to visit Ilkeston. Did you get the letter about me asking for one or two cheap handkerchiefs. Write as often as you can, but if you have not sent any handkerchiefs I should not
bother
[to send them now].
With Best Love
Harry
(PS) Address same only L9, instead of L1
32507/9th Batt Y
+
L att Royal Munster Fusiler
A.P.O. Box R. L9., I.E.F Italy
August 19th/1919
Dear Kate
Just a line to let you know that I have received your letter, I have
also received one from Jack. Ethel told me in her last letter that
Annie had got
married I am very glad that it is all over. I think
she will be alright. I was pleased to hear that Mr Leverton was
their and Annie Bonser
[a relation of Harry’s
mother].
I dont
know when I shall get a leave but I hope it will not be long, write
as often as you can and let me know all the news. It has been very
hot this month out
hear. We dont get to know much about demob I
expect they will soon start now write as often as you can
With Best Love
Harry
Aug 23rd
Dear Kate
Just a line to let you know that I have received your letter. I am pleased to hear that the wedding came off alright and that it is all over. It as been awful hot out
hear this month and we have had no rain for a long time. The grapes are just about getting ripe, well in another weeks time they will be getting them. I hope to be on leave very soon as it will
very soon be a year since I was at home. so I think it is time I had one I will let you know as soon as I hear anything about it. I am pleased to hear that they are all keeping well at home. I
have been transfered to the Munster Fusiliers now so my proper address and No will be at the bottom of the letter. Write as often as you can and let me know how you are getting on. What did
Annie think to Connie when she went to see her does she get any better. I will write again soon
With Best Love
Harry
Address
40843 Pt Lamin, 1st Gar
[Garrison]
Batt
Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R L9
I.E.F. Italy
Harry’s permanent transfer to the Royal Munster Fusiliers means that he has been allotted a new regimental number.
40843, 1st Gar. Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers
A.P.O. Box R. L9, I.E.F. Italy
Aug 23rd
Dear Jack
Just a line to let you known that I am alright and keeping well. I have
heard nothing about leave yet but I hope to be home in September
sometime, if I have
good luck. I am very pleased to know that you
found Ethel and Willie well. I have been transferred to the Munsters
altogether now, so I have got a fresh No. It as been awful hot
out here this month. we have hardly known what to do. The grapes are just about to ripe I expect in another week or so they will be getting them. I am pleased to hear that Annie wedding came
off alright and I hope she will be happy. I expect Willie will miss her for a bit but they will have to make the best of it.
With Best Love to you both
Harry
August turned to September, but whatever Harry’s hopes for leave, they were not rewarded.
40843/1st Garr Batt., Royal Munster Fusiliers,
A.P.O Box R L9, I.E.F. Italy
Sept 10th
Dear Jack
Just a line to let you know that I have received your paper and letter. The explosion you speak of was at the dump we are guarding but it was nothing. it might have been
worse I think one Austrian prisoner got killed of course biggest part of the men here belong to A.O.G and have seen no fighting at all so it would be terrible to them. I dont know when I shall
get on leave now as it is stopped for September expect for special leave when a man goes on leave from here he does not return but stops in England. You can please yourself whether you write
for a special leave but whattever you do dont write to this end. if you could not get any thing from the war office dont write here I would rather wait six months I expect I shall be home for
Christmas. Write as often as you can and let me know all the news. Glad to here that you are both keeping in good health. Ethel address is 19 Mill Street. I think it is all this time I will
write again soon.
with Best Love to you both
Harry
If you write for leave tell them that I have only just been transferred to the 1st G RMF as this Batt as seen no fighting at all. It is twelve months now since last
leave.
Harry’s PS seems to indicate that he is anxious for the authorities to know that he has seen action, unlike the 1st Garrison Battalion of the munsters, which had been
sent to Italy to provide guards for headquarters, ammunition dumps, airfields, and so. On through October and November, into December, and still Harry has no leave, and no news of his
demobilization.
Harry’s letter to Jack, showing his new regimental number.
